Data

= **Data Analysis** = Back to Learning, Boredom and Fun Analysis.

Initial study of the surveys involved reading answers to multiple choice question items. These data were found in the boring experience: **//(The following three graphs contain data from all 198 surveys downloaded from SurveyMonkey website on Friday, Sept. 19th.)//**


 * Boring graph**

These data were found in the Interesting/Fun experience:
 * Interesting Graph**

Location: Locations were similar in both boring and interesting situations. However, interesting situations cited slightly more field trips and informal learning than boring situations.
 * Location Graph**

Survey information was gathered on Friday Sept. 19th from SurveyMonkey.com. All 198 surveys were read through briefly and patterns noted. Surveys were originally tagged on SurveyMonkey for several characteristics but data needed closer inspection, therefore open response question were deeply analyzed from a random sample of 75 surveys. All of the 198 surveys were not included in the data in the graphs due to time constraints.

Nearly all of the responses in the boring situations fell into the following categories shown on the graphs. There is some overlap, as some participants listed more than one reason for boredom in their open ended responses.
 * Reasons for Boredom:**

We can see from the graph that 47 respondents mentioned the instructor as being inadequate in some way (no motivation, monotone, unprepared etc.). This was the major factor in boredom. Thirteen respondents mentioned that the pace was inappropriate (too fast/too slow). Ten said that the difficulty level was inappropriate. Fourteen respondents cited an inability to concentrate as a reason for boredom. Some also listed physical discomfort and class size as being a reason for boredom.

In the interesting experience, the following were mentioned as a reason for being interested in the situation.
 * Reasons for interest:**

Thirty one mentioned the instructor being enthusiastic or very skilled. Forty-five said their reason for interest was interaction with other students. Relevance of the content to real life or to their own interests was also listed as a reason for a situation being fun. Twelve respondents also said that their reason for interest was that they were just internally interested in the topic.

Materials: 17 said that PowerPoints/videos or slides were used in the boring condition as opposed to 4 in the fun experience. 28 respondents stated that in the fun/interesting experience they used manipulatives and/or realia.
 * Some other results not listed as the main factor in boredom but mentioned:**

Back to Learning, Boredom and Fun Analysis.